What the exam asks
- Section I (Multiple Choice): Expect scenario-based questions where a character experiences a startling event (like a car skidding on ice). You must identify how different theoretical models explain the sequence of physiological arousal, cognitive appraisal (labeling), and the conscious feeling of emotion. Note that the exam does not test the historical names of these theories—it only tests the process and order of events.
- Section II (Free Response): Because research on the facial-feedback hypothesis and universal emotions has yielded mixed results and replication debates, these topics are prime candidates for AAQ study summaries or three-source EBQ sets.
Core ideas
1. Theories of emotion: sequence and appraisal
Emotion involves a stimulus, physiological arousal (autonomic nervous system activation), cognitive appraisal (mental evaluation or labeling), and the subjective experience of the emotion. Psychological theories disagree on the order and necessity of these steps:
| Theoretical Model | Sequence of Events | Key Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Successive (Arousal First) | We feel afraid because our heart races; distinct bodily states directly produce distinct emotions. | |
| Simultaneous | The brain routes sensory input to the cortex (causing conscious feeling) and the body (causing arousal) at the exact same time. | |
| Cognitive Label Required (Arousal + Appraisal) | Physiological arousal is similar across emotions; we must cognitively appraise the context to label the arousal and feel the emotion. | |
| Immediate Appraisal (Fast/Slow Pathways) | Some basic emotions (like fear) occur instantly via a fast neural pathway to the amygdala before conscious cognitive labeling happens, while complex emotions use a slower cortical pathway. |